Cars That Debuted (or Got Famous) in Movies

Product placement in film is perhaps the most subtle, and effective, way to advertise a car or build excitement about a new one coming soon.

That’s why it’s smart for movie studios to shack up with automotive marketing departments. The studio gets to use a hot new car, and the auto company gets months of hype while its car becomes a movie star. Pretty sweet deal. So what are the best cars to debut (or get really famous) in feature films? Read on, friend.

Now we’re getting spy shots of the latest version of the R8. This highly anticipated roadster will be offered with the same 5.2-liter V10 from the coupe, with 525 horsepower and acceleration to 62 mph in about 4.1 seconds.

Bumblebee begins the movie as a 1977 Camaro, but transforms into a 2009 model. In reality, the car used was a Pontiac GTO rebadged to look exactly like the Camaro concept car that debuted at the North American International Auto Show in 2006.

I have to love the way the Aussie Holden became your “new” Camaro back in the day of the real Camaro it got a fourdoor body fitted and became GM Holdens HQ range a best seller 71-74 despite absolute crap understeer handling

Has anyone seen “Thief of Hearts,” a pretty bad thriller from ’85 that featured a very young David Caruso? One of the few good things about it was the 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing featured throughout. Nice.